Miller Brew

Right, a role player like Danny Cleary except Holmer puts up more points. Cleary makes $3.5 million next season. Just sayin'...

I'll admit I'll be sad if Wings lose Miller on waivers. I hope we can at least trade him for some picks or something... Atleast we can't lose Abby and he'll get top line minutes in GR. He'll be a better player for it. Oh wait, does Drew have a two-way contract? If he does then I'll be so happy.

$1 million for Red Wings best goal scorer? He's on pace for 32 goals...

Well someone has to say it... Lebda for Phaneuf? Get`r done, Kenny.

I know it's hard for some to face, but just like the Hossa situation when everyone thought for sure we'd keep Hossa, Franzen and Hudler only a few of us had realistic expectations. Just like with Lidstrom. He stated on record before his last signing that he would be happy to just retire so he could raise his kids in Sweden [paraphrased]. The guy is 40 years old and has nothing else to prove. His elbow is ailing him and, as he stated before, he would be happy to retire. It's my opinion (like the Hossa deal everyone thought he was a lock to stay in Detroit - only few would accept the fact that he was a rental) that Lidstrom is likely going to retire after his contract is up.

I'm sure it was a great game to be at. Glad Wings won with you (and many other RW fans) in the house. It was a great game. I bet the warm weather out there helped lift their spirits as well. I would be estatic to get on a jet in 14 degree crappy weather and land 4 hours (or however long it takes to get there) and get off the jet with 72 degree sunshine.

Yes because it makes more sense for the Thrashers to lose Kovalchuk for nothing. :rollseyes:

Phaneuf for Kovalchuk? I could see that trade. From what I've read Kovy isn't cooperating very well in the negotiations... so who knows.

We're going to have a lot of money because Lidstrom is likely going to retire and Holmstrom is going to get a big pay cut.

Point is Dats and Zetterberg haven't been producing together, in fact it's a waste of talent having them together (based on this season). However, Bert-Dats-Holmer have been unstoppable now they have chemistry and you do not want to break that up. Franzen-Z-Cleary is one of the most consistent lines in the NHL and have proven they can score at will. Again, you can't break that up. Flip is a capable 2nd line center and would be on any other team in the NHL, but Detroit has too much depth and Flip on the 3rd makes for a dominating 1-2-3 punch. Now with Eaves-Helm-Draper, which is a strong 3rd line will probably be the most potent 4th line (with energy) in the entire NHL. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

This posts says Wings have a lot of 3rd and 4th line depth. Not to mention Ritola will be a full time NHL player soon (he's been great) and Abby will be in the NHL next year, players will need to be moved. Good problem to have but I can't decide what Holland should do. That might be a new topic, but I've been trying to think of what Holland should do with all this depth we have. Looking at your lines, Wings have two 1st lines a 2nd line and a 3rd line.

A healthy Red Wings team is the last team any #1 or #2 seed teams will want to play. Actually Red Wings are the last team ANY team will want to play in the playoffs. Wings are going to upset a lot of teams in the playoffs. Bottom line, this is a fact... the road to the Stanley Cup runs through HockeyTown.

Close but Williams will be with Filppula and Cleary will be on Z's line. Bertuzzi Dats Homer Franzen Zetterberg Cleary Williams Filpulla Leino Draper Helm Eaves Leino will be in rotation with other players. Babs might put him on the 2nd line with Z in some cases and if he doesn't perform he'll be a healthy scratch for someone else. Sad to see Miller on that list. He's been great for us.

Had those refs not called that cheap (none existing) penalty on Helm (or even Lebda) to give that 3-on-5 to the `Yotes, Howard would have a shutout.

Off topic, but Sharks are tearing it up with a 8 game winning streak. They seem almost unstopable and have earned the #1 spot in the entire NHL (and first team of the season to make it past 60-points). Hope Wings can upset them on January 9th. We should have both Cleary and Zetterberg back by then *crosses fingers*

How can Osgood ever get an opportunity in net when Howard is so f'ing hot!?!? This is a GREAT problem to have!

I'm not sure about Zetterberg, but Cleary (as far as I know) is suppose to be in for the Ducks (if there are no set backs).

Kopecky is one player that I was personally thankful for leaving Detroit. Chicago loves to overpay their players so he is great fit for them. Patrick Eaves, Kopecky's replacement, is far more superior for more than half the salary hit ($500k) with 10-points and a +5 and our go to guy for the penalty kill. Eaves is also a RFA after this year so if Holland decides to let him leave, we'll get some nice picks in return for him. Kenny Holland is the MAN!

Wow, FSN just showed the highlight when Weaver DESTROYED Sharp. What a hit!

Do you think the 'uncertainty' of when players return is being used for Babcocks advantage? I mean Cleary, for example, had a couple of 'rumors' when he is suppose to return, but now it's bee changed for the 3rd or the 6th. This could throw off other coaches 'game plan' if Cleary (or Zetterberg or both) miraculously become a game time decision 5 minutes before puck drop. That could really throw off the oppositions coach and the entire team for that matter. It would make me happy if this happens. Babcock's chess game. Can Babcock do this?

Teams don't scout other teams to try to find an advantage to win? You are telling me these lines below are, to any opposition NHL coach, no significant impact or cause for concern from our current line-up? Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Cleary-Zetterberg-Abdelkader Ritola-Filppula-Leino Draper-Helm-Eaves vs Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Ritola-Filppula-Miller Draper-Helm-Eaves Leino-Abdelkader-Maltby Filppula on the 3rd line just became one hell of a 3rd line and our 4th line just became an energy line that can score -- and would playing against Coyote's 4th line Bissonnette-Winnik-Korpikoski -- but their coach doesn't care? Don't you think a coach would want to prepare their 4th line and 3rd line of defense for a HELM and his breakaways? I seriously hope the opposition coach thinks like you...even though he probably won't have a coaching job very long.

No disprespect to May but this team needs players who can put the puck in net right now, not someone who can ass punch players. I know Leino's numbers aren't that great 4-3-7 but it is 7 times better than May's numbers. I'll take goal scoring over a fighter. Besides, even if May was healthy Babcock would still need to reward Leino for his strong game. Babs wasn't going to sit Leino and send a negative message for doing what was asked of him. Chances are Ritola would be the odd man out. I'll take Ritola (from what I've seen in his game these past few games) over Brad May.

Brad May? It's more of blessing than a curse, my friend. I'll take Eaves over Brad May any day of the week. There is no negative losing May when we have Eaves, Ritola and Leino in the line-up and ready to play. Needless to say, I've been more than impressed with Ritola. He should be in the NHL right now, he reminds me of a Filppula 2.0. Kronwall shouldn't even be playing until January 21st. So if he comes back by the end of the road trip, then that ROCKS! We already knew Zetterberg and Ericsson wasn't coming back until towards the end of the road trip. I'm happy Kronwall is coming back before the end of January! Great news!

Congrats to a big win against a strong Aves team and here's to a healthy and winning 2010. Go Wings!

So you didn't watch the game then?